Thoreau man sentenced to nearly five years for assault

FARMINGTON — A Thoreau man was sentenced Thursday afternoon for assaulting two people in July 2013.

Aldo Jones, 31, was sentenced to four years and eight months in federal prison.

He and his 23-year-old brother, Eddie Jones Jr. III, also of Thoreau, were arrested in August 2013 and charged with attacking a 21-year-old Crownpoint man on July 28, 2013, for failing to pay a $50 debt, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Aldo Jones repeatedly stabbed the man in the head, upper back and right hand with a screwdriver, and both brothers hit him with their fists, according to the press release.

The man's skull was punctured during the attack, causing a life-threatening injury, in addition to stab wounds and a broken nose.

Aldo Jones is also accused of stabbing a second victim with a knife in Littlewater two hours after the altercation in Crownpoint. The second victim was allegedly stabbed after confronting Aldo Jones about the assault on the first victim, according to the press release.

Aldo Jones pleaded guilty to both assault charges in December 2013.

Eddie Jones also pleaded guilty to assault in December. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.